Here are some general perspectives on academic assessment from the Wabash Center’s blog for theological school deans:
Israel Galindo
A student in my online class asked a great question:
< <... How do I encourage members to reflect and think theologically?.... I'm having a hard time coming up with an example of what that would even look like in a church setting. I know it's important, and I use the practice myself at times, but I can't figure out how to transfer it to a congregation or group setting. Could anyone offer me some insight?....>>
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The new book by GRACE members Israel Galindo and Marty Canaday, Planning for Christian Education Formation: A Community of Faith Approach (Chalice Press) is immediately available in print and e-book format.
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You can read a review of Galindo’s new book, Perspectives on Congregational Leadership at the Resource Center website. While there, visit other spots on the website for updates on resources for you and your congregation. Especially if your church is not a member of the Resource Center, explore the website for information on the huge benefits of membership.
The upcoming book by GRACE members Israel Galindo and Marty Canaday, Planning and Organizing for Christian Education Formation: A Community of Faith Approach (Chalice Press) will be released in March of 2010.
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Recently I ran into one of those perennial educational sticky questions that operate on different levels. The question operates on a range from the philosophical to the pragmatic, and, regardless of the level at which the conversation takes place, emotions can fly high. The question takes several forms, but basic variations are, “Can everything be measured?” or, “Can every kind of learning be measured?” One unspoken question is, “Should learning be measured?”
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At a recent consultation with a school I once again encountered the dilemma faced by school leaders who lack a background in the field of education. This school has been in existence for ten years, well past the “make it or break it” point for a private school. They were at a point in their institutional development where they had the luxury of taking a breath and addressing educational issues that had been long ignored in the flying-by-the-seat-of-our-pants phase. They had a new director and a new assistant director who were eager to see the school step up to a new level as an educational institution, but both lacked formal training in the field of education or educational administration.
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We’re just at the start of the new fall Christian Education year in our churches. But it will not be long before most resident Christian education staff and program leaders will begin to hear complaints about the curriculum. Most of those complaints will be along the lines of “It’s too hard to use,” “The kids don’t like it,” “I don’t like it,” etc. Admittedly, while whether one likes something or not does not necessarily have anything to do with whether it is effective, the pragmatic reality of having a volunteer corps of teachers means that one needs to give due attention to such complaints.
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As we gear up for a new academic year (where did the summer go?!) I thought we”d recycle some past educational blogs this week.
For some years I’ve been working with a group of teachers who have been motivated to improve their courses and their classroom performance. These teachers were in a teaching in-service seminar I gave some years ago (almost a decade ago!). It was one of those rare experiences when everything seemed to click: the right people in the same room at the same time sharing the same interest and serendipitously finding the right seminar. A small group from this seminar has continued to pursue their work of becoming excellent teachers, and it has been gratifying to see.
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I’m pleased to announce the release of a new resource for children’s missions education: Ready! Set! Go! Children on Mission Throughout the Church Year. The book was written by the students in my Teaching Children course, co-taught by Barbara Massey, Minister to Children at the River Road Church, Richmond, VA.
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